REVIVE US AGAIN

A Pastor and friend of mine posted a picture on a social media site this morning allegedly showing the deceased bodies of the students in Kenya.  I'm sorry if this may offend some of you.  At one time in my life, though it wouldn't have offended me, I probably would've thought it inappropriate and morbid to be displayed for all the world to see.

When I saw this picture this morning, it made me stop and think about it.  In today's society, we have become "conditioned" to hear about violence.  All you have to do is turn on your television or radio, look up at your computer or tablet or just take a quick gander at your cell phone.  With the technology we have, anything you want is literally a click or voice command away.  I think we are so used to hearing about the bombings and shootings, etc. that we acknowledge them, but don't really "appreciate" the reality of what is happening in another place, to another family.  Most media outlets are pretty good at keeping the goriest of photos out of the view of the masses.

We are living in such perilous times.  Yet we tend to become complacent, especially in the "land of the free and the home of the brave", some of us not even remembering the men and women fighting for that freedom (Now don't get mad.  Most everyone I know has or had someone serve and some have given the ultimate for me to sit in my living room drinking my coffee on an early Sunday morning.) So let me take this time to say thank you with my whole heart.  Your sacrice and that of your families can never be repaid! We are living in a time where we may not all agree on every Biblical Principal but we feel we have the right to the Freedom of religion, right?  But the one thing that should NOT be happening is people being KILLED for their beliefs or lack thereof.  I as a Christian would never do so.  My Bible and the Holy Spirit that lives within me commands me to love my neighbor.  It doesn't say to do so only if he/she believes exactly as I do.  NO WAY.  My job as a christian is to love everyone and to show them God loves them too and Jesus is their Saviour.

I truly don't understand anyone killing themselves or others because they won't deny Jesus.  People think this happens only in other countries.  But it's happening right here on American soil.  Not too long ago a wife and mother was beheaded for not denying her faith right here in the middle of the Bible Belt, USA.  I know what I would do.  Exactly what this brave lady did.  I'm ready to go meet my maker.  Do you know what you would do?  It's a hard question and takes some deep soul searching.

What our country is coming to right now is more dangerous than I can even put into words.  Israelites ARE God's chosen people.  We as a nation have always supported Israel.  This new "agreement" that our so-called leader has proposed has Netanyahu up in arms (and I don't blame him) calling this agreement "a threat to the survival of Israel".  Promise or Not!  I wouldn't put more trust in the Iranian government than I would an angry rattler not to strike.

We, as Christians need to pray.  We need to support Israel.  There is a revival on the way.  It is due.  It is ripe for it.  But God gave us free will and He's not going to just go open his "Revival Drawer" grab a flaming ball of it and hurl it at the Earth.  We need be on our faces before the Lord and seeking him.  We need to be prayed up and studied up.  We need to have our hearts and spirits ready to receive and obey whatever He has for us.

We as true Christ-Followers need to band together more than ever before across cities, states, and oceans and pray in this Revival.

With Love,

Stephie